Blade holder

ABSTRACT

A SAFETY RAZON OR RAZOR BLADE HOLDER WHEREIN THERE IS NO PROTRUDING PORTIONS OF THE SUPPORTED BLADE. THE MAIN COMPONENT PARTS OF HE RAZOR OR HOLDER ARE MANUFACTURED OF SIMPLE METAL OR PLASTIC CASTINGS OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH TO SUIT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR UTILITY AND SALES APPEAL. THE RAZOR OR HOLDER HAS A FLAT HANDLE WHICH AFFORDS THE USER A CONSTANT AWARENESS OF THE CUTTING SIDE BY ASSOCIATION WITH THE FLAT SIDE HELD BY THE FINGERS OF THE USER. THE RAZOR OR HOLDER COMPRISES A FRAME, A SECTIONAL PLASTIC HANDLE ON THE FRAME, ONE SECTION BEING STATIONARY AND THE OTHER SLIDABLE. A HEAD ASSEMBLY FOR SUPPORTING A RAZOR BLADE IS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE END OF THE SLIDABLE HANDLE SECTION. COILED SPRINGS ARE MOUNTED ON THE HEAD ASSEMBLY AND SLIDABLE HANDLE FOR RETRACTING THE HEAD ASSEMBLY. WHEEL ACTUATED INDEXING MEANS IS PROVIDED FOR ADJUSTING THE SIZE OF THE SPACE FOR CLAMPINGLY SUPPORTING A RAZOR BLADE. THE SLIDABLE HANDLE SECTION IS SPRING LOADED.

June 1, 1971 v, YAGER 3,581,393

. BLADE HOLDER File Jan. 13, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1.

0000000000 mvsm-oa. 62 Q j '72 we we mqm fM/"MV 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arramvsyr.

2 6 z iwflwg a K, 2 a m W w, m 7 4 I if 3+ a a may 5 W J //7//// ////Z//7 //,W///// mm y Y a 9 F r m 0 6 m r] w. a? 4| I a wjm w Y 0 0M B -mrm M w M ,w w M M V. YAGER June 1, 197-1 BLADE HOLDER v. kAeER BLADE HOLDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. z4.'

INVENTOR. l/ICTOA K4651? BYWggM .Wune l, 1971 Filed Jan. 13, 1969 Uited States Patent US. Cl. 30--61 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A safety razor or razor blade holder wherein there is no protruding portions of the supported blade. The main component parts of the razor or holder are manufactured of simple metal or plastic castings or a combination of both to suit the requirements for utility and sales appeal. The razor or holder has a flat handle which affords the user a constant awareness of the cutting side by association with the flat side held by the fingers of the user. The razor or holder comprises a frame, a sectional plastic handle on the frame, one section being stationary and the other slidable. A head assembly for supporting a razor blade is pivotally connected to the end of the slidable handle section. Coiled springs are mounted on the head assembly and slidable handle for retracting the head assembly. Wheel actuated indexing means is provided for adjusting the size of the space for clampingly supporting a razor blade. The slidable handle section is spring loaded.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in safety razor or razor blade holders.

The vast majority of safety razors and razor blade holders, using double edged blades, with which applicant is aware are made of stamped metal and screw machine parts which allow the ends of the double edged blade to protrude at each end of the razor or holder. Since the industrys adoption of the thin blade which is only of an inch thick, even the dull edge of the blade as rigidly held in the razor or holder presents a hazard to the user if the razor or holder is grasped by the head instead of the handle. Such hazards may occur unwittingly or in emergencies such as preventing a fall. The razor or holder embodying the present invention may be handled by persons of all ages with complete safety.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a safety razor or razor blade holder that allows the manufacture of its main component parts out of simple metal or plastic castings or a combination of both to suit the requirements for utility and sales appeal.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a razor or razor blade holder wherein the various parts comprising the complete unit are engineered to combine with each other in an easy, interlocking assembly operation to minimize the manufacturing cost of the finished article.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a structure for each part which does not require cores or undercutting segments in the molding dies which add to the cost of tooling in cast parts and slows the operational cycle in the molding process.

A further object of the invention is to provide a razor or razor blade holder with a substantially flat handle which affords the user a constant awareness of the cutting side by association with the flat side held by the fingers of the user. A round handle as in conventional razors or blade holders allows the user no option but to keep a visual check of the blade angle when applied to parts of the face.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a razor or razor blade holder of this type with improved mechanism for opening and closing the retaining components of the razor blade such that more effective cleaning and 3,581,393 Patented June 1, 1971 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a safety razor or razor blade holder embodying one form of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 3 is a similar view with the head assembly moved to blade receiving position, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 3A is a top plan View of the indexing knob or wheel.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the plane of the line 55 of FIG. 4, parts being shown in moved position in dash lines.

FIG. 5A is a top plan view of the head assembly.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 66 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6A is a bottom plan view of the head assembly.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken on the plane of the line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7A is a bottom plan view of the stationary handle section.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of a safety razor or razor blade holder embodying a modified form of the invention, on a reduced scale.

FIG. 9 is a similar view showing the parts in the position of FIG. 3, parts being shown in dash lines, and

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the head assembly and associated parts on an enlarged scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawings, in FIG. 1 a safety razor or razor bladeholder embodying one form of the invention is illustrated and designated generally at 10. The razor or razor blade holder 10 comprises a frame 12 consisting of an elongated flat plate 14 having arms 16, 16 extending along the long side edges thereof and extending outwardly of the plane of the plate on both sides thereof. The arms terminate at one end in outwardly flaring portions 18, 18 continuing into fingers 20, 20 extending parallel to the main portions of the arms. The fingers support a plate-like wing 22 formed integrally therewith disposed perpendicular to the arms and extending on both sides of the fingers. An elongated slot 24 is formed in the center of the plate 14. At one end of the slot, the top end as viewed in FIG. 5, the material of the plate is formed with a bent portion forming a seat 26. At said one end, the material of the plate is also formed with a hook 28 thereat. At the other end of the plate, the material thereof is formed with a hook 30. The component parts of the frame 12 thus far described form a casting of aluminum or other suitable metal.

The frame 12 supports a sectional handle assembly comprising a flat rectangular stationary plate-like handle section 32 seated in the space formed by one side of the plate 14 and the arms 16, 16 and a flat rectangular slidable plate-like handle section 34 slidable in the space formed by the other side of the plate 14 and the arms 16, 16.

The stationary handle section 32 is formed with inward- 1y directed flanges 36 along the side edges of the body thereof. At one end, the section 32 is formed with inwardly directed flanges 36 along the side edges of the body thereof. At one end, the section 32 is formed with an inwardly directed flange 37 having a cutaway portion 38. An inwardly extending lug 40 is formed on the handle 3 section 32 adjacent the cutaway portion of the end flange. At its other end, the handle section 32 is formed with an integral extension 42. At this other end, the side flanges 36 of the handle section 32 are formed with extending fingers 44 extending along the edges of the extension 42 and protruding therebeyond. A lug 46 formed with an undercut portion 48 is formed on the handle section 32 adjacent the extension 42 and extends inwardly thereof. The outer surface of the handle section 32 is preferably roughened.

The slidable handle section 34 is shaped similarly to the handle section 32, with a roughened outer surface as indicated at 52. The slidable handle section 34 is formed with integral inwardly extending side flanges 54, 54 and with integral inwardly extending end flanges 56, 56. The slidable handle section 34 is formed with integral inwardly extending side flanges 54, 54 and with integral inwardly extending end flanges 56, 56. The slidable handle section slides in the space formed by the outer surface of the frame plate 14 and the arms 16, 16. At one end, the bottom end as viewed in FIG. 4, the slidable handle section is formed with perforated ears 58, 58 offset from the body of the slidable handle section and forming extensions thereof. A substantially triangular shaped finger piece 59 is integrally formed on the outer surface of the section 34 and one side surface thereof is longer than the other side surface and is directed toward a head assembly 60 hingedly or pivotally carried by the ears 58, 58 of the slidable handle section 34.

The head assembly 60 comprises a substantially flat guard plate 62 with a series of spaced holes 66 along the long side edges thereof. Extending outwardly from one surface of the body of the plate 62 at each corner thereof, there is a lug 68 formed with a shoulder serving as a seat 70. The opposite side or surface of the body of the plate 62 is enlarged a indicated at 72. The enlargement 72 tapers at each end as indicated at 74 and each end is formed with a recess 76. A pair of perforated ears 78 extends from the inner side of the enlargement as seen in FIG. 4 and at the base of the ears 7 8 integral cams 80 are formed on the opposed surfaces of the ears.

The material for the handle members 32 and 34 and the head assembly 60 may be thermo-plastic or thermosetting and may comprise plastics of the phenolic, urea, cellulose-acetate or other type of synthetic plastics which may be moulded or extruded. The plate 62 and the enlargement 72 are formed with an oblong communicating recess 82, the recess communicating with a central opening 84 in the enlargement as best seen in FIG. 4. With particular reference to FIG. 4, a plastic plate 86 closes the recess 82. Plate 86 has a central hub portion 88 formed with a threaded recess 90 extending from the inner side thereof and has a button 92 extending from the outer side thereof. A circular indexing knob or wheel 94 is removably connected to the hub portion 88 of the closure plate by means of a central shaft 96 embedded in the center thereof and extending through the central opening 84 in the enlargement. The shaft is formed with a discshaped collar 98 engaging the base of the recess 82 and with an externally threaded extension 100 threaded into the threaded recess 90 in hub portion 88 of the closure plate 86. The outer surface of the knob or wheel 94 has indicia 102 thereon in the form of spaced arabic numbers.

In assembling the safety razor or razor blade holder 10, an elongated compression spring 104 is positioned in the slot 24 of the plate 14 of the frame 12. One end of the spring seats on the seat 26 of the plate 14 and its other end impinges against a plastic block 106 fixed to the inner surface of the slidable handle section 34 by a screw 108. The block 106 slides in the slot 24.

The slidable handle section 34 is joined to the head assembly 60 by aligning the perforated ears 58 on the handle section 34 with the perforated ears 78 on the enlargement 72 of the guard plate 62. Headed hinge or pivot pins 110 are inserted through the aligned perforations, the pins being threaded at their inner ends to coact with the threads in the perforated ears 78 of the enlargement 72 on the guard plate 62. Coiled springs 112 encircle the shanks of the pins 110, with one end thereof anchored on the shafts and the other end fixed on the guard plate 62 in the recesses 76. The handle section 34 with head assembly 60 attached is slid into the space defined by the frame plate 14 and the arms 16 along one surface of the plate, positioning the guard plate 62 against the Wing 22 of the frame 12. The stationary handle section 32 is then positioned in the space between the plate 14 and arms 16 along the opposite surface of the plate, the hook 46 on the inner surface of the handle member 32 interlocking with the hook 48 formed on the plate 14 of the frame 12 as seen in FIG. 5. When handle section 32 is in this position, the end flange 37 thereof is in line with the adjacent end flange 56 of the slidable handle section 34 with the cutout portion 38 of flange 37 receiving the hook 28 formed on the adjacent end of plate 14. The end fingers 44 on the end of the handle section 32 are also in line with the earns on the enlargement 72 of the guard plate 62. The stationary handle section 32 when assembled is held against displacement by means of a removable inverted U-shaped spring metal clip 113 inserted into the space between the hook 28 on the plate 14 of frame 12 and end flange 38 of the slidable handle section 34 and into a recess 115 formed in the outer surface of the adjacent end of stationary handle section 32.

In use, the safety razor or razor blade holder 10 is placed in the palm of the hand of the user. The fingers are hooked in elongated fashion around the handle sections 32 and 34, and the thumb of the hand placed on the triangular shaped finger piece 59. The slidable handle section 34 with the head assembly 60 is then pulled by the thumb in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 3 until the cam portions 80 of the enlargement 72 engage the free ends of the fingers 44 at points offset from the center of the head assembly whereupon continued movement of the handle member 34 will cause the fingers 44 of the handle member 32 to tilt the head assembly 60, degrees in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 to a position where the guard plate 62 is parallel to the flat handle sections 32 and 34 as seen in FIG. 3. A razor blade 114 may now be positioned on the shoulders or seats '70 on the guard plate 62. Continued pulling of the slidable handle section with head assembly in the same direction will cause the hinge pin springs 112 to urge the head assembly 60 in the opposite or counterclockwise direction, thereby positioning the blade 114 between the clamping wing 22 and the guard plate 62 as shown in FIG. 6. Rotation of the wheel 86 in the proper direction will cause the blade to be clamped in operative position between the clamping wing and the guard plate ready for use.

-In FIGS. 8 to 10, inclusive, a safety razor or razor blade holder 10' embodying a modified form of the invention is shown. The slidable handle section 34' is formed with inner hooked portions 58 for hooking over the hinge or pivot pins 110' for moving the head assembly 60.

Furthermore, in this form the retracting springs for retracting the head assembly 60' are omitted and instead a rack-and-pinion connection between the head assembly and stationary handle section 32' is substituted. This connection includes teeth 116 on the bottom curved edges of the ends of the enlargement 72' of the guard plate 62', which teeth are adapted to coact with pairs of teeth 118 formed on the fingers 44' of the stationary handle section 32.

In FIG. 10, mechanism for adjusting the position of the blade 114 for course or fine shaving is shown. The knob or wheel 94' is fixed to the externally screw threaded extension of shaft 96'. Rotation of the knob or wheel causes linear displacement of the button 92.

In this form, the closure plate 86 is square shaped with its sides slidably fitting against the opposed wall surfaces of the recess 82" in the guard plate 62, as indicated at 120. The tip of the button 92 abuts against the wing 22 of the frame thereby holding a relative position between the head assembly and the wing 22. This relative position directly affects the position of the blade 114' which is clamped between the opposing end portions 124 of the wing 22' and the head assembly 60 as indicated at the points 126 and 128, respectively. The gap 130 between the blade and head assembly is adapted to be narrowed or widened to suit the needs of the user within a nominal range of to 45 thousandths of an inch.

In all other respects, the safety razor or razor blade holder 10' is similar to the safety razor or razor blade holder 10 of FIG. 1 and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A safety razor or blade holder comprising a metal frame, a sectional handle on the frame, one section being stationary, the other section being slidable, a tiltable head assembly pivotally connected to the sectional handle, and means for clamping a razor blade between the head assembly and frame, said head assembly includes a guard plate, an enlargement on one side of the body of the guard plate, the connection between the head assembly and slidable handle section including spaced perforated ears extending from the enlargement, perforated ears forming an extension of the slidable handle section at one end thereof, the perforated ears on the enlargement and on the handle section being in alignment and pivot pins extending through the perforations in the aligned perforated ears, and retracting coil springs around the pivot pins, one end of the springs being anchored on the pins, the other end impinging against the guard plate for retracting the head assembly.

2. A safety razor or razor blade holder as defined in claim 1, wherein the slidable handle section is spring loaded including an elongated compression spring supported longitudinally on the frame, one end thereof being anchored on the frame, the other end being securely connected to the slidable handle section.

3. A safety razor or razor blade holder as defined in claim 1, and an integral finger piece on the outer surface of the slidable handle section for actuating the section, said finger piece being triangular in configuration, one side surface of the finger piece being larger than the other side surface and being directed toward the head assembly.

4. A safety razor or a razor blade holder as defined in claim 1, and an integral finger piece on the outer surface of the slidable handle section for actuating the sec- 6 tion, said finger piece being triangular in configuration, one side surface of the finger piece being larger than the other side surface and being directed toward the head assembly.

5. A safety razor or razor blade holder as defined in claim 1 and means for adjusting the size of the clamping space between the frame and head assembly for supporting a razor blade, said adjusting means including a recess in the enlargement of the guard plate, a plate for closing said recess, an internally threaded recessed hub on the plate extending from one side thereof, said enlargement having a hole communicating with the recess therein, a shaft extending through said hole, said shaft having an externally screw threaded extension on one end thereof, in the threaded hub of the plate, a wheel on the other end of the shaft, said wheel having indexing indicia on the outer surface thereof, and a button extending from the other side of the plate and abutting against the frame.

6. A safety razor or a razor blade holder comprising a metal frame, a sectional handle on the frame, one section being stationary, the other section being slidable, a tiltable head assembly pivotally connected to the sectional handle, and means for clamping a razor blade between the head assembly and frame, the slidable handle section is spring loaded including an elongated compression spring supported longitudinally of the frame, one end thereof being anchored on the frame, the other end thereof being securely connected to the slidable handle section, the head assembly including a guard plate, an enlargement on one side of the body of the guard plate, the connection between the head assembly and slidable handle section including spaced perforated ears extending from the enlarge ment, perforated ears forming an extension of the slidable handle section at one end thereof, the perforated ears on the enlargement and on the handle section being in alignment and pivot pins extending through the perforations in the aligned perforated ears, and retracting coil springs around the pivot pins, one end of the spring being anchored on the pins, the other end impinging against the guard plate for retracting the head assembly.

7. A safety razor or razor blade holder as defined in claim 6, wherein the pivotal connection between the head assembly and the sectional handle comprises gear teeth on the head assembly and coacting teeth on the stationary handle section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,848,078 3/1932 Jansson 30--51 OTHELL M. SIMPSON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 30-3 3 1 

